Cause of turmoil in Fort Bend GOP

Published
6:00 pm CST, Monday, February 16, 2004

The growing discord in the Fort Bend Republican Party can be laid squarely at the feet of County Chairman Eric Thode. His arrogance and ego have caused him to behave in a manner that crosses the line of normal political campaigning.

Thode seems to have taken the philosophy he learned from Enron and is using it to attack Republican Party members who want to hold him accountable and responsible.

The Executive Committee supported Smith as the best candidate on the ballot despite threats and blustering from Thode who had promised to deliver the appointment and failed.

Instead of providing leadership, he used ridicule and threats against those who did not agree with him and continues to attempt to punish those individuals today.

In the past, Thode also attacked precinct chairs in Fort Bend and Brazoria County for challenging State Senator "Buster" Brown to resign because of his admitted advances to a young woman who worked for him.

Thode called those who challenged Brown hypocrites and accused them of making charges on "unsubstantiated allegations". Brown was at the time chairing an oil and gas committee appointed by the state. At the same time Thode was serving as a public relations executive with Enron.

Now, Thode has decided to get rid of anyone who doesn't agree with him and has used the communications of the Fort Bend Republican Party to push a slate of candidates to replace his non-puppets. Thode needs to be reminded that the Chairman position is not a dictatorship which he believes it is. In reality, those Thode opposes come from a broad range of philosophies with the common denominator being they want fair and responsible government and are unwilling to condone the unethical and irresponsible leadership. They will not blindly follow party hacks like Thode.

Brian Gaston

(Gaston a former Sugar Land City Councilman, chaired the Republican Grassroots Headquar-ters in the 2002 elections and can be reached at fortbendrepublican @yahoo.com.)